(19)
(11) EP 1 114 728 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
14.08.2002 Bulletin 2002/33

(43) Date of publication A2:
11.07.2001 Bulletin 2001/28

(21) Application number: 00125789.8

(22) Date of filing: 24.11.2000
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7B41J 3/36, B41J 3/44, B41J 29/02
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 05.01.2000 US 477937

(71) Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Company, A Delaware Corporation
Palo Alto, CA 94304 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • McKay, Kerry N.
    San Diego, CA 92106 (US)
  • Yamamoto, Junji
    San Diego, CA 92128 (US)
  • Osmus, James M.
    Escondido, CA 92027 (US)
  • Zepeda, Caroline
    San Diego, CA 92104 (US)
  • Chiu, Andrew
    Tsimcshatsui East, Kowloon (CN)

(74) Representative: Schoppe, Fritz, Dipl.-Ing. 
Schoppe, Zimmermann & Stöckeler Patentanwälte Postfach 71 08 67
81458 München
81458 München (DE)

   


(54) Stackable printer and method of using same


(57) The present invention provides a low profile stackable Internet appliance printer (10) for use with a television receiver and monitor (18) and responsive to commands from a remote device for printing user desired information. The printer (10) has a box-like rectangular shaped housing (19) conforming in size to that of conventional audio video components such as cable boxes, DVD players, amplifiers, video tapes and the like to facilitate the stacking of the printer (10) with such other components. A base member (20) having defines an interior cavity for receiving a removable combination input/output tray cassette (26) and supports from below a low profile print bar (22) including its feed motor, drive motor, associated electronic drivers for controlling the firing of low profile print heads, carriage movement and the moving of paper to print user desired images. The combination input/output tray cassette (26) includes a release (125) to allow the complete removal of the cassette (26) for re-supplying an input tray portion (32) thereof with a new supply of paper and for providing a user with access to the interior of the printer(10) to facilitate the removal of paper jams. A user actuated paper size adjuster (132) permits the input tray portion (32) of the cassette unit (26) to accommodate at least two different sizes of paper and couples a repositioning mechanism (130) to a leading edge kick out feature (59) to facilitate the ejection of sheets of paper in accordance with the paper size selection made by the user.







Search report